President Obama’s Speech and Other Fascinating News on the Web

Obama Defends NSA

President Obama has announced a series of changes to the way the government will manage its surveillance, while insisting that the NSA is not guilty of any abuses: “They are not abusing authority in order to listen to your private phone calls or read your emails.”

+ “That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens. No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.” That was candidate Barack Obama back in 2007. The NYT’s Peter Baker on Obama’s path from critic to overseer of spying. Seems like a predictable progression given his current gig.

+ The president’s address included a reference to Edward Snowden: “The sensational way in which these disclosures have come out has often shed more heat than light, while revealing methods to our adversaries that could impact our operations in ways that we may not fully understand for years to come.”

Weekend Reads

“Hi sounds like you went thru a bit of a rough day. We are here to talk & assist if u like. Following u now. DM anytime.” You get bullied online. Then the anti-bullying vigilantes show up to help. Is that good news or bad? From Emily Bazelon in the NYT Magazine: The Online Avengers.

+ “There is only one given: On the afternoon of August 16, a 22-year-old from Australia named Christopher Lane, who had come to America to go to college and play baseball, went out running and, without warning or knowing why, was shot to death in Duncan.” Buzz Bissinger visits Duncan, Oklahoma to report on the Darkness in August.

+ “The night manager rushed over and helped him into a chair by the fireplace, and put a blanket on him. Cheseto was shaking violently. His hands were swollen to twice their normal size and his skin resembled thick plastic. His feet were hard as chunks of wood, and frozen to his running shoes.” What happens to a runner when he loses his feet? This is the story of Marko Cheseto: Runner, Interrupted.

Remembering a WWII Soldier

A former Japanese intelligence officer named Hiroo Onoda has died at the age of 91. He lived a remarkably long life considering that he fought World War II for 29 years longer than anyone else.

Play It Again

Even with the rise of streaming services, most people still listen to music on the radio. And radio programmers have come up with a new way to compete: They play the same songs over and over. Being able to measure what people like ruins everything.

If It’s Yellow, Let It Mellow

While many Americans have suffered through an unusually cold winter, out in California, it’s sunny and clear. Yesterday, it was a ridiculous 91 degree in San Luis Obispo. Yes, it’s hot. And it’s dry. California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency and called on residents to cut water use by twenty percent.

+ I know it’s hard for folks in the rest of the country to feel bad that Californians are getting too much sun. Especially since the polar vortex is coming back.

In Your Eyes

What exactly are they up to over at Google? Maybe everything. The company’s latest test product is a pair of smart contact lenses that measure the level of glucose levels in tears. The lenses will ultimately enable Google to deliver customized advertisements based on what they see in your soul.

+ Can you wear Google Glass while driving? According to the first case, yeah, maybe.

Blowing Off Steam

It’s the curse of food delivery. The steam trapped in the container makes everything soggy. But maybe there’s hope. Wired’s Liz Stinson on the pizza geek who discovered the world’s smartest pizza box.